Ball applicator type dispenser with lockable ball and removable cartridge



March 24, 1953 J. w. GILCHRIST BALL APPLICATOR TYPE DISPENSER WITH LOCKABLE BALL AND REMOVABLE CARTRIDGE Filed on. 2, 1947 INVENTOR.

O 6 7 F1 9 JflMEJ W. 6/; CHE/57' HTTORNE Y Patented Mar. 24, 1953 BALL APPLICATOR TYPE DISPENSER WITH LOCKABLE BALL AND REMOVABLE CAR- TRIDGE James W. Gilchrist, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Neergaard and Associates, Paterson,

N. J a partnership Application October 2, 1947, Serial N 0. 777,554

7 Claims. (Cl. 15-132.?

This invention relates to ball applicator type dispenser with lockable ball and removable cartridge, and more particularly to dispensers for viscous masses which are nevertheless fiowable, such as the pigmented rouge mass from which lipsticks have heretofore been molded.

The invention relates especially to that type of dispenser in which a rotatable ball is used as the means for transferring the mass to a surface.

It is one object of this invention to provide a dispenser of the above indicated character in which a dispensable cartridge contains the mass and in which the construction of the parts is such that the device is economical to manufacture and the cartridge is readily assembled and disassembled from the holder when the same is to be replaced.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dispenser of the above indicated character in which the mass is maintained under pressure and the ball acts as a check valve to prevent the unwanted escape of the mass from the cartridge.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple means for locking the ball on its seat, and also in such a manner that the rotation of the ball will be eifectively prevented whereby the ball may be used as a spreader of the applied mass.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a dispenser of the above indicated character in which the ball is maintained on its seat, and is released from it seat, by simple rotations of the cartridge in reverse directions.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a holder for a disposable cartridge wherein a pin in the holder extends through the cartridge to engage the ball and by simple rotation of the cartridge the ball is freed to allow the same to turn freely and by simple reverse direction the pin forces the ball on its seat and maintains it stationary.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent from this specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a sectional view of the dispenser according to this invention and showing the ball held upon its seat;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the nose end of the dispenser of Fig. 1, showing the ball freed for rotation;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the cartridge of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view partly in section, of a slightly modified construction;

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55 of Fig. 4, except showing the cartridge filled with the mass of material; and

Figs, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views illustrating the openings generally effected in the use of the ball as a rolling applicator of the mass.

While my invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I have shown therein, for illustrative purposes, only a preferred embodiment, and Wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the dispenser comprises a tubular holder H which is closed at its bottom l2 and is open at the upper end. The holder H has a portion l3 of enlarged internal diameter, which, in turn, has a screw threaded portion Hi.

The bottom l2 has a central aperture I 5 in which fits, preferably loosely, the reduced end of a pin Hi, the outer end of which i formed into an enlarged head ltA. The pin extends through and beyond the open end of the holder II, for a purpose to be described. A piston I1 slidably fits upon the pin Hi and is pressed toward the open end of the holder I I by means of the spring l8.

The cartridge 2! is a tubular element having a tapered nose portion 22, terminating in an outlet opening 23. The angle of the taper in the nose portion 22 will be such as to gradually direct the viscous mass toward the opening 23 Without the use of excessive piston spring pressure. The opening 23 is closed by means of a ball 24 which seats upon the metal around the opening 23 with a substantial portion of the ball protruding through the opening. In other words, the metal around the opening is kept a thin as practicable and the opening 23 is only slightly less than the diameter of the ball.

The opposite end of the cartridge 2| is closed by means of a cup-shaped cap 25 which is of a size to closely fit the internal wall of the cartridge 2 I. The cap 25 is provided with a central hub portion 26 which is adapted to fit upon the pin I6. Cap 25 is desirably made of Neoprene or some other plastic material of a nature that will slide upon the interior wall of the cartridge 2| and the pin it and yet will be sufiiciently flexible that the pressure of the material inside the cap will efiect a leakage seal between the cap and the cartridge and also between the hub and the pin.

The exterior diameter of the cartridge 2| is reduced, as indicated at 21 in Fig. 3, and is provided with a screw threaded portion 28.

It will be appreciated that the cartridge as shown in Fig. 3 when filled with the lip rouge or other viscous material and having the ends closed by means of the ball 24 and the cap 25 is a complete package which may be sold as a filler for, or as a refill for, the holder ll. When a cartridge is to be placed in the holder H the end of the pin I6 is inserted in the hub 26 of the closure cap 25 and fits the piston l! inside the end of the cartridge 2| against the rear of the cap 25, whereupon the cartridge is slid into the holder until the screw threads 28 of the cartridge engage the screw threads M of the holder. The holder and cartridge are then screwed together, as indicated in Fig. 1, in which position the end of the pin |6 engages the ball 24 to press it upon its seat in the opening 23 of the cartridge, and the nose and part of the barrel of the cartridge 2| extend beyond the open end of the holder When the parts are in the assembled position, the mass in the cartridge 2| is placed under pressure by means of the spring l8, and the ball is mechanically maintained upon the seat in the opening 23, as an insurance against the unwanted escape of material past the ball 24.

If desired, a closure cap, indicated at 3| in Fig. 1, may be fitted over the end of the Cartridge and rests against the end of the holder When the applicator is to be used to apply the lip rouge mass to the lips, for example, a slight turning of the cartridge 2| will separate the ball 24 from the end of the pin l5. That i to say, it may be considered either that the pin is retracted or the cartridge advanced, and by reason of the fact that the mass in back of the ball is under pressure of the spring l8, the ball will be maintained upon its seat in the advanced cartridge positions. In either case, the ball is free to rotate and when the user applies the protruding portion of the ball 24 to the lips, the ball will be moved rearwardly, a distance which is limited by the pin [6, as seen in Fig. 2 (which showing is considerably exaggerated). Then, as the ball is moved across the lips, it will roll to transfer a film of the lip rouge mass to the lips. The usual motion to cause the ball to roll upon the lips will be back and forth and this will cause the ball to move from one side to the other in the opening 23. When the ball so moves, the available space for the escape of the mass will be crescent shaped, as is seen in Figs. 6 and 7, and the ball will rotate against the side of the opening 23 which is opposite to the direction of rotation. The end of the pin l6 may be rounded, if desired, so as to avoid presenting any surface which would be binding upon the ball in its free movement and rotation.

After a film of the lip rouge mass has been applied to the lips, a turning of the cartridge in the reverse direction will again bring the pin l6 into engagement with the ball to mechanically hold the ball upon its seat in the opening 23 and, at the same time, to stop the ball from rotating. The stationary ball may be used to smooth out or re-distribute the coating and also for giving the coating the proper contour in accordance with the shape desired by the particular user.

The form shown in Fig. 4 is similar in operating principles and is generally similar in construction to the form shown in Fig. 1. The differences concern primarily the cartridge and in this modified form the cartridge 4| is a plain tubular member having a tapered nose 42. The

cartridge is held in place in the holder 43 by means of a sleeve 44 which has a tapered forward portion 45, to engage the tapered nose 42 of the cartridge, and a screw threaded band 46 at its rear end which engages the screw threaded portion 41 of the holder 43, corresponding to the screw threaded portion l4 in Fig. 1. In use, the sleeve 44 is turned to move the same outwardly whereupon the cartridge is free to move forwardly in the holder 43 under the action of the spring 48, which exerts pressure upon the mass and which pressure is transferred to the ball 49, which closes the outlet end of the cartridge. Thus, the separation of the ball 49 and pin 5| is effected to allow for the free rotation of the ball, as described above. By a reverse turning of the sleeve 44, the cartridge 4| is slid rearwardly in the holder 43 thus bringing the ball 49 into physical engagement with the pin 5| for the locking and mechanical purposes heretofore described.

I claim:

1. In a dispenser for a mass of flowable viscous material, a tubular holder having a closed end and an open end, a pin mounted in the closed end and projecting beyond the open end of the holder, a cartridge filled with said mass and having a tapered nose terminating in an opening forming a ball seat, a ball arranged to seat in said opening to normally close the same against the escape of material from the cartridge, a sealing closure for the opposite end of the cartridge and provided with an aperture for the reception of said pin, a piston slidable in said cartridge and on the pin, a coiled spring extending between the piston and the closed end of the holder to urge the piston outwardly, and adjustable means for holding the cartirdge assembled in said holder with the pin projecting into said cartridge and with the spring pressed piston engaging said closure to exert pressure upon the mass in said cartridge.

2. In a dispenser for a mass of fiowable viscous material, a holder, a pin mounted in the holder, a cartridge filled with said mass and having a tapered nose terminating in an opening forming a ball seat, a ball arranged to seat in said opening to normally close the same against the escape of material from the cartridge, a closure for the opposite end of the cartridge and provided with an aperture for the reception of said pin, a spring pressed piston fitting said cartridge and provided with an aperture for the reception of said pin, and adjustable means for holding the cartridge assembled in said holder with the pin projecting into said cartridge and engaging said ball to position the same and with the spring pressed piston engaging said closure to exert pressure upon the mass in said cartridge.

3. In a dispenser for a mass of flowable viscous material, a holder, a pin mounted in the holder, a cartridge filled with said mass and having an outlet opening, a ball normally closing said opening against the escape of material from the cartridge, a piston fitting in the cartridge and engaging means so as to cause the piston to exert pressure upon the mass, and means for holding the cartridge assembled in said holder with the pin projecting into said cartridge and for adjustably mounting the cartridge whereby in one position of the cartridge the ball is held against rotation by engagement with the pin and in another position of the cartridge the ball is freed for rotation to apply a film of the mass to a surface.

4. In a dispenser for a mass of fiowable viscous material, a tubular holder having a closed end and an open end, a cartridge filled with said mass and having a tapered nose terminating in an opening, a ball arranged to normally close said opening against the escape of material from the cartridge, a piston fitting in the cartridge and engaging means so as to cause the piston to exert pressure upon the mass, means carried by the holder for engaging the ball to maintain the ball in its cartridge closing position, and means for adjusting the holder with respect to the cartridge whereby in one position of the cartridge the maintaining means is held in engagement with the ball and in another position of the cartridge the ball is freed from said maintaining means.

5. In a dispenser for a mass of flowable viscous material, a tubular holder having a closed end and an open end, a pin mounted in the holder, a cartridge filled with said mass and having a nose terminating in an opening, a ball normally closing said opening against the escape of material from the cartridge, the ball being engaged by said pin in said closing position, a piston fitting in the cartridge and engaging means so as to cause said piston to exert pressure upon the mass, and means for adjusting the cartridge in said holder both to bring the ball in engagement with the pin and to free the ball from said pin.

6. In a dispensing device for a fiowable viscous mass, a holder, a disposable cartridge containing the mass and having a rotatable member protruding therefrom and arranged normally to close the cartridge at one end, a piston element closing the cartridge at the opposite end, means engaging the piston to place the mass under pressure, means for adjustably mounting the cartridge in the holder, and means for locking the member against rotation in one adjustment of the cartridge in the holder and freeing the member for rotation in another adjustment of the cartridge in the holder and comprising a pin extending into the cartridge and adapted to engage the member.

7. In a dispenser for a mass of fiowable viscous material, a tubular holder having a closed end and an open end, a pin mounted in the closed end and projecting beyond the open end of the holder, a cartridge filled with said mass and having an outlet opening, a ball normally closing said opening against the escape of material from the cartridge, a closure for the opposite end of the cartridge and provided with an aperture for the reception of said pin, the cartridge being slidable in said holder, a piston fitting in said cartridge, a coiled spring extending between the piston and the closed end of the holder to urge the piston toward said opening, and a sleeve adjustable in the holder and cooperating with the cartridge for controlling the movements of the cartridge in said holder to cause the pin to engage said ball or to separate the pin and ball.

JAMES W. GILCHRIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 853,156 Brenton May 7, 1907 1,171,652 Riesberg Feb. 15, 1916 2,208,588 La Forest July 23, 1940 2,425,198 Moore Aug. 5, 1947 2,438,786 Moore Mar. 30, 1948 2,440,829 OConnor May 4, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,633 Great Britain Nov. 10, 1910 411,016 Great Britain May 31, 1934 476,971 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1937 759,683 France Nov. 23, 1933 

